Lady Finger Cactus
Mammillaria elongata. USDA zone 9b-11b, hardy to 25F. Lives: Front patio.
About this Lady Finger Cactus
Mammillaria elongata, commonly called the Lady Finger or Gold Lace cactus, is a small, clustering cactus native to the mineral-rich hillsides of Hidalgo, Mexico. It forms dense mounds of elongated cylindrical stems — typically 4–6 inches tall and about an inch in diameter — densely covered in tight, star-shaped clusters of fine yellow, white, or tan radial spines with no prominent central spine. In late winter to spring it produces rings of small, pale yellow to cream flowers that encircle the upper portion of each stem, sometimes with a faint pink blush. It offsets prolifically from the base and is one of the easiest Mammillarias to grow, tolerating a wide range of conditions as long as drainage is sharp.
Picked up at TLC Nursery in OKC on April 10th, 2026 — same run as the Mexican Fence Post. The dense clustering habit and soft spination make it one of the more approachable cacti to work with, and the yellow spine color catches light nicely. Heading to the front patio.